seth 9:12 Wed Feb 29
Carrick for Engerlund
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David McDonnell on Carrick's omission
www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opin...cle872046.html
Of all the omissions from England's squad to play Holland, that of Michael Carrick is perhaps the most baffling.
While much has rightly been made of the enduring influence of Ryan Giggs and the positive impact Paul Scholes has had on Manchester United since coming out of retirement, Carrick has excelled this season and gone about his business with the minimum of fuss.
He has been United's best player this season, a vastly underrated member of Sir Alex Ferguson's squad whose effectiveness is often only acknowledged when he is not in the side.
With an average pass completion rate of 90 per cent this season and having made more interceptions that any other United player, Carrick is arguably the reason they are just two points behind Manchester City.
He doesn't score spectacular goals, he doesn't have blistering pace and he rarely beats opponents, with the exception of his fine solo strike in United's 2-0 win at Queen's Park Rangers in December, when he ran past four players before scoring.
But Carrick's great skill is doing the simple things with calm eloquence, his technique, passing ability and positional awareness providing the platform for those around him to cause damage to opposing teams.
If he were a few inches shorter and had a Spanish name, Carrick would probably be lauded as one of the finest midfield playmakers in the world. As it is, he cannot even get a call-up for his own country.
He has also shown his versatility by filling in at centre-back for United this season and in previous campaigns. And it is a measure of Carrick's importance to United that Patrice Evra is the only player to have featured more times for them since the 30-year-old made his £16million move from Tottenham in 2006.
Since then, Carrick has made 259 appearances and established himself as one of United's most reliable players. Yet still the cultured midfielder is viewed as surplus to requirements when it comes to England.
Yet England's loss is United's gain, and while Carrick must wonder what more he must do to force his way into the England squad, there will be no complaints coming out of Old Trafford over his omission.
With 12 games to go in the title tussle with Manchester City and a potential further seven in the Europa League, a rest for Carrick this week will be welcomed by Ferguson as better than the burden of an extra match at such a crucial stage of the season when recovery time is vital.
Injured at the start of the season, it is no coincidence United's form picked up when Carrick regained full fitness. Since making his return in the 1-0 win at Swansea back in November, Carrick has missed just one game of significance for United, having been rested for the Carling Cup exit to Crystal Palace and the Europa League second leg tie against Ajax, with United already leading 2-0.
That game was the 2-1 defeat in Basel which saw United exit the Champions League. Carrick was suspended that night and it is tempting to wonder whether his calm presence in midfield may have ensured a different outcome and helped United avoid tumbling into the Europa League.
At the start of the season, United's failure to address the retirement of Paul Scholes by signing a central midfielder looked to have left them too light in such a crucial area, even more so with injuries to Anderson and Tom Cleverley, and illness forcing Darren Fletcher to miss the rest of the campaign.
But Carrick's towering midfield performances this season have kept United on track in the Premier League in their pursuit of Manchester City.
England caretaker boss Stuart Pearce may not rate Carrick in the top 10 midfielders in the country, but his worth is not in question at Old Trafford.
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Nicey
1:15 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Carrick is like Curbishly - boring on MOTD highlights so therefore must be shit!
Personally I think he is nuts and should have racked up far more caps and given the England side stability for years.
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ooooh Morley Morley
1:10 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Again putting words in my mouth.
So because i agree with them that they didn't pick him i MUST think that they did good jobs?
FMOB.
You are a clown sometimes, it's a good job i love you otherwise i would have used a stronger word than clown.
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BubblesCyprus
1:08 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Was and still am a big fan / admirer of Carrick as a player shame he cannot score more goals.
Awaits a statto to tell me he has scored dozens this Season but don't think so.
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prince kropotkin
1:03 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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couldnt agree more with the article and less with those that say he's ordinary. Not since Hoddle (and before him Brooking) have I seen someone so comfortable on the ball. He barely has to look at the ball to bring it under control. Instead he's looking around for the pass. God I wish I could play like that.
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Know it all
12:52 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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OMM - Surely if you're basing what your saying on England managers not picking him, then you must, MUST think Capello and McLaren done good jobs. SGE picked him a good few times even if he didn't start with him.
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gph
12:38 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Carrick is an execellent player, and the C&P makes a good case for it.
But "If he were a few inches shorter and had a Spanish name, Carrick would probably be lauded as one of the finest midfield playmakers in the world." is going well over the top.
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ooooh Morley Morley
12:29 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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At least you aren't taking what i say to extremes.
Try debating sensibly without putting words in my mouth.
Go on try it, i dare you.
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Know it all
12:16 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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So you're only quality IF you get picked by England mangers?
Laughable really
When England get a better manager than Sir Alex then I might agree.
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ooooh Morley Morley
12:14 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Know it all 12:12 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
I've never said he was a bad player.
4 managers have given him 22 caps over 11 years, i guess that's a pretty good indication unless you are KIA.
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ooooh Morley Morley
12:12 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Woodwork, if we are picking an England Squad/team then i would much prefer to see the 10 i mentioned than Carrick.
That is a combination of players who are established and are better right now and also younger players who are going to be excellent future stars and for me are a better option and offer more than Carrick.
Carrick offers nothing new. As said, a jack of all trades and a master of none and i can see why he has been over looked by ANOTHER England manager.
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Know it all
12:12 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Better than using the opinions of FAILED England managers
You can't be a bad player if you've played and won almost everything for Man Utd in 5 and half years and played over 250 games, well unless you're OMM I guess
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Keith Lemon
12:10 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Ah the infamous Mesut Ozil incident.
Barry was too fat and slow to get there. Carrick would have bottled it anyway.
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Joey Woodwork
12:08 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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If you're saying play Cleverley, Rodwell etc because they are the future, and we should build for that, I would agree.
But if you are saying they are a better option now, then you're wrong.
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ooooh Morley Morley
12:05 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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So you are basing it on what ifs.
Ok, just so i know what i am dealing with.
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Know it all
12:00 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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"Or are you suggesting that Carrick would have made a big difference"
We will never know really, I can't see into what would have happened IF
I'm guess however we'd have done slightly better in the last world cup had we had a fit Michael Carrick than an unfit Garth Barry playing but then that's just a guess.
We're these GREAT England managers right to ignore NEW ENGLAND CAPTAIN Scott Parker as well?
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ooooh Morley Morley
11:58 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Yes, those ones. Or are you suggesting that Carrick would have made a big difference.
Are you basing your argument here on what ifs?
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bell
11:57 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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*morley
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Know it all
11:56 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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These England managers that didn't manage to get past a quarter finals in any competion?
Those ones?
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bell
11:56 Wed Feb 29
Re: Carrick for Engerlund
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Morely..how much Man united have you seen over the last 12 months would you say?
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